[timdog]

My plans over the next few months is to lift another 4" (8" total) with a shackle flip...with that driveshaft modifications (anyone have any luck without buying a new shafts??)
Re-gear and 38's following shortly after.
I can get a dana 60 w. 4.1 gears for $400. Would this be better than re-gearing my 9.25 which isn't much cheaper really.
I have the wifes blessings since she was expecting me to get a new truck in a couple of years...guess she thinks I'll still be happily involved in the RC...probably right.

 

[MA$TER BLING!]

38's are kinda big and heavy for 1/2 ton axles if you do any serious wheelin'. A D60 rear is usually a good investment but unless it has a locker already in it $400 seems high for a rear 60. If you swap in a rear 60 you'll want to convert the front to 8 lug or replace with a 8 lug axle. 4.10 gears are a little tall for 38's I'd run atleast 4.56 maybe 4.88's depending how much highway driving it sees, a 9.25 can only go as low as 4.56.. Some people say don't upgrade stuff until you break the stock stuff but being broken in the middle of nowhere with stock stuff sucks.

 

[timdog]

I'm in Fla, so the worst it gets is swamp mud...no locker in it. That the price shipped, guess I should look more local. The truck will be a daily driver when I don't ride my bike...except it'll take a lot of off road detours. Tell me if I am wrong, but the key to a good 60 is it needs to be a full floater...thought I read that somewhere. My point in getting it is, I would hate to drop 4 and change on gears and a locker for the 9.25 to get assed out if it breaks. And if it is almost the same for a 1 tonner...I thought it would be a good idea.
Thanks

How would stock axles (9.25 and D44) hold up to 38" Thornbirds?

 

[chrysler300le]

I don't know about FL but where i'm at there is a few places i can go in and get what i want. U-Wrench-It is the local place here and any rear axle is $85. I have seen a few Dana 60's i could of got for that price.

 

[timdog]

Has anyone run 38 or 38's on stock 1/2 ton axles?

 

[RXT]

The upper limit for the 9.25 is about 38s, and you'll need to regear both axles. If you dig into the pumpkins, might as well add a limited slip or locker particulary in the rear. $400 is simply too much for a Dana 60. You can find rear axles in junk yards with 4:10s usually less than $100. Front axles are alot more expensive. You can keep it and fix it up, but you should make some changes. If you can't get a front Dana 60, at least go with a regular hub, Dana 44hd (8 lug axle) or swap the outers to 8 lug hubs. You won't gain any additional strength over what you got now, but you'll have better and bigger brakes for those big tires, and you won't need to carry two spares (One 5, one 8 lug)

Ed

 

[Dodge 85 RC]

Like mentioned, the 9.25 can handle the 38's. Chrysler actually put quite a few in the 3/4 ton trucks as an 8 lug version, so they're pretty stout. Its only real weakness is the C-clip which really isn't that weak, and the lack of lower gearing. The problem you'll have is with the D44. They are fairly stout axles for 1/2 tons, but won't last with 38's. But then again, you said thornbirds , so you won't be going far anyways

 

[MA$TER BLING!]

Like mentioned, the 9.25 can handle the 38's. Chrysler actually put quite a few in the 3/4 ton trucks as an 8 lug version, so they're pretty stout. Its only real weakness is the C-clip which really isn't that weak, and the lack of lower gearing. The problem you'll have is with the D44. They are fairly stout axles for 1/2 tons, but won't last with 38's. But then again, you said thornbirds , so you won't be going far anyways

Hmmm.. What can you say about Thornbirds, they have the weight and ride like a regular Swamper and the traction off-road of an all terrain. I can't ever remember anyone saying the liked their Thornbirds after a few miles.

 

[timdog]

I'm not dead set on thornbirds, but their 38's are really like 38.5...so I figure if I build to that standard, I'll be good all around. Ultimately, this truck will still be driven semi-daily and still go deep in mud. I have plenty to do before I get around to getting the tires. I will use the RCC lift to go up, then I want to try to find some D60s (hard here in P-cola), re-gear if they aren't that way when I get them and with that new driveshafts and then the tires. It all kind of goes together around the same time, so it is kind of dependent ion the axles. I will use someone else to fab up the shackle flip since I'm not too sure about my skills.
So first I am on the hunt for the axles and a good welder.
Oh yeah, I move in a couple of months and deploy shortly thereafter...so it's a plan, just gotta see when it'll come together.
Thanks for the advice,
Tim
Anyone good welders looking for a coupole of bucks fabbing up some RCC flip, give me a line.

 

[mrpeal]

i used to run half ton running gear with 40s and a 440 pushing around 450 hp. i never broke anything but the front 44 and that was due to a jump in it. they are pretty stout but if you get hardcore then you wanna upgrade for sure.

on the thornbirds, well get some real tires, i think they look really cool, but overall performance of the tire is lacking. i would say get something a bit more aggressive, the thornbird is more of thier all terrain tire, the are quiet on the road and do some slinging of mud but i have always looked at them as poser tires, just my personal feelings though.

jamie